Alfred; or, The Adventures of a French Gentleman — page 214: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN. 1&3 LE PORTRAIT CHARMANT. O BEAUTEOUS counterpart of him I love, Delightful pledge of tenderness to me, Sent by thy lord, to say that I might prove At least some solace in regarding thee! There are the features that I once admired, - The tender look, and loftiness of air ; And when I press thee to my bosom, fired With hope, it seems as if himself were there, But, oh! thou hast not half thy master’s charms, Mute—passionless spectator of my woe: The joys we tasted in each other’s arms, Rush to my mind, and bid the tear-drops flow. Extenuate my language, if severe— Forgive the wretchedness that fills my heart ; And though thou dost but represent him here, Ever in thee I find his counterpart. ‘¢ Your voice has not lost its harmony, my dear Eloise, nor your memory its tenacity,” cried Mr. Clayton, his countenance radiant with satisfaction, as the last words of this pathetic strain died away from his niece’s lips. ‘‘It is a sweet song, and exactly suited to your voice, Eloise,” added Mrs. Clayton with a smile expressive of contentment; for she fondly hoped that her daughter’s sudden elevation of spirits was to be attributed to change of air and scenery. “ Le Portrait Charmant,” said Eloise, turning round her head towards her mother without quitting her seat, ‘‘ is supposed to have been sung by Madame de Chateaubriand, when she received a eo of money on which was stamped the head of Francis the irst.”’ ‘“‘True!” exclaimed Mr.Clayton. ‘* And now, dear Eloise, as you have retained your chair, do oblige me with your other favourite song, as I am not certain of finding you in the same musical humour to-morrow, and am therefore desirous of profiting by the present occasion.” ‘¢ If I were as miserable as possible, uncle,” returned Eloise with the amiable naiveté so natural to an innocent maiden whose thoughts and whose actions are alike as pure as the hymns of cherubim, ‘‘I would always make an effort to please those I love :” and having uttered these words, she turned once more towards her harp, and sang the following singular air to the melody she ex- tracted. from the tightened cords of that delicious instrument. THE KNIGHTS OF PALESTINE. A LEGEND OF THE OLDEN TIME. Ir was when the eventful day was done, That witnessed the capture of Ascalon, From the Moslem king by the Christians won, Who fought for the shrine ofthe Virgin’s Son ; ECORNICLOOKSaCO